Foreign Policy

Iran Condemns Deadly Terrorist Attacks in Iraq’s Kirkuk

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi strongly condemned Friday attacks on the Iraqi city of Kirkuk by ISIS terrorist group, which led to the killing of a number of people, including several Iranian nationals.

In a statement released on Friday, Qassemi expressed deep sorrow over the death of several Iranian technicians in an attack carried out by ISIS terrorists on a power plant north of Kirkuk, denouncing the move as a “savage act”.

He further expressed his condolences to the bereaved families of the victims and said the terrorists are “taking their last breaths” and by such attacks, they are attempting to make up for their humiliating defeats in the battlefields.

Qassemi also said the Iranian consul general in Erbil is pursuing the fate of Iranian technicians, adding that based on preliminary figures, four Iranian nationals have been killed and three others wounded in the attack.

ISIS militants armed with assault rifles and explosives attacked targets in and around Kirkuk early Friday.

Multiple explosions meanwhile rocked the city, and gun battles were ongoing, said witnesses in Kirkuk, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were concerned for their safety.

Much of the fighting was centered on a government compound in the city. They said the streets were largely deserted out of fear of militant snipers, according to AP.

Local Kurdish television channel Rudaw aired footage showing black smoke rising over the city as extended bursts of automatic gunfire rang out. It quoted Kirkuk Gov. Najmadin Karim as saying that the militants have not seized any government buildings.

In the power plant attack, which took place in Dibis, a town north of Kirkuk, three ISIS suicide bombers entered the facility and took 10 workers hostage, said Maj. Ahmed Kader Ali, the Dibis police chief.

The attackers asked to be taken to the Iranians who worked at the plant. One of the workers took them to the Iranians before escaping. The militants then killed the Iranians and the other workers, and detonated their explosive vests when police arrived, Ali said.

Kirkuk is some 170 kilometers (100 miles) from the Daesh-held city of Mosul, where Iraqi forces have been waging a wide-scale offensive since Sunday.

IFP Media Wire

Reports and views published in the Media Wire section have been retrieved from other news agencies and websites, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Iran Front Page (IFP) news website. The IFP may change the headlines of the reports in a bid to make them compatible with its own style of covering Iran News, and does not make any changes to the content. The source and URL of all reports and news stories are mentioned at the bottom of each article.

Recent Posts

Iran, E3 set to resume talks in January: Spokesman

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei has stated that a fresh round of talks between Iran…

18 minutes ago

Legendary Iranian actress, voice performer Zhaleh Olov passes away

Zhaleh Olov, a celebrated actress of Iranian cinema, theater, television, and a renowned radio voice…

2 hours ago

Iran says has not in direct contact with Syria’s new rulers

Iran has dismissed any direct contact with the rebel group that has taken power in…

2 hours ago

Italy warns Russia’s threat to Europe much wider than imagined

Moscow’s threat to Europe extends beyond defense to illegal immigration and cybersecurity, Italian Prime Minister…

3 hours ago

Deputy FM raps US for holding Iranians hostage

A deputy Iranian foreign minister has criticized Washington for taking Iranian nationals hostage under the…

5 hours ago

Iran’s interior minister warns population crisis looms

Iranian Interior Minister, Eskandar Momeni, has raised alarms over the nation's declining population growth, warning…

5 hours ago